Jet vibrator



July 12, 1966 5. J. RUDY ETAL JET VIBRATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May14, 1.964

INVENTOR $TE/ /7EN J. RUDY us 75/? A. AM B W J AW J ATTORNEY July 12,1966 5, J. RUDY ETAL 3,260,509

JET VIBRATOR FIG. 4

Filed May 14, L964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z7 43 i T k Q Q ALE M1 V f 4 @i/Al LV A" ll/ 6 7 I Ihlml j I l lh|lnll I llln "HI" "lln i FIG. 5

INVENTOR STEPHEN J. RUDY LESTER A 4M TSBERG ATTORNEY United StatesPatent Jersey Filed May 14, 1964, Ser. No. 367,30? 4 Claims. (Cl. 259-4)This invention is concerned with a pressurized fluid operated vibratorutilizing a jet reaction principle of operation.

Pneumatic vibrators are known wherein pressurized air is fed into achamber tangently relative to the surface of a hollow open endedcylinder therein so as to cause the latter to roll eccentrica'lly abouta stationary core of relatively reduced diameter. In such vibrators,much of the driving energy of the operating air is wasted when theroller obtains a position on the core below and out of tan-gent relationto the entering air stream. Other pneumat-ic vibrators are known whereina fixed core is provided in a rotor chamber and has a radially slidableblade, over which blade and core a hollow open ended cylinder is causedto eccentrically roll as pressure air is fed radially through the coreto one side of the blade into a space between the cylinder and thesurface of the core. In this type of vibrator the blade is subjected toundesirable frictional wear and jarring by the gyrating cylinder. Closebearing tolerances at the open ends of the rotating cylinder relative tothe end walls of the rotor chamber are also required to avoidundesirable air leakage to exhaust ports formed in an end wall of thedevice.

The general object of the present invention is to provide a jet poweredvibrator which fully utilizes the energy of a pressurized medium indriving a vibration producing eccentric rotor; which substantiallyeliminates close tolerance fits in its construction; which will operatesatisfactory in any position of repose; and which has no dead-center orstall position.

A particular feature of the vibrator of the present invention is a rotorweight eccentrically supported for rotation upon a stationary shaft,about which shaft it is adapted to be propelled by the reaction forcesproduced by air jet discharged through orifices in the rotor.

A \feature of the rotor lies in the particular arrangement of the jetorifices whereby the thrust reaction produced by the discharging jets issubstantially expended in driving the rotor about its axis.

Another and more particular object of this invention is to provide avibrator having a jet propelled out-of-balance rotor.

And a further object is to arrange in the rotor jet orifices in suchmanner that the thrust produced by the discharging jets is largelyutilized in propelling the rotor about its axis.

A further feature of the rotor is that it has a full annular bearingsupport upon the surface of the shaft about which it turns, so thatthere cannot be any undesirable sudden dropping or pounding of the rotorin a radial direction relative to the shaft at the termination or startof the rotor action, as may occur in those vibrators wherein a hollowcylinder of large diameter rotates eccentrically about a shaft ofsubstantially lesser diameter.

Further, the particular construction of the rotor of the presentinvention and its relation to its supporting shaft enable it to rapidlydevelop high speed and to impart vibrations of high frequency and strongamplitude to its casing. This advantage makes the vibrator of thepresent invention desirable for use in settling fresh concrete,particularly concrete having a heavy mix wherein vibrations of strongamplitude are desired to overcome the resistance offered by the heavymix.

3,250,509 Patented July 12, 1966.

Accordingly, a further object of this invention is to provide a freshconcrete mix pneumatic vibrator incorporating the various features andadvantages above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to provide a pressurized fluidoperated vibrator which is of extremely simple construction, Otf lowcost manufacture and maintenance, and which is of rugged construction.

The invention further lies in the particular construction andarrangement of its component parts, as well as in their cooperativeassociation with one another to effect the objects intended herein.

The foregoing, as well as other features, objects and advantages of thisinvention will appear more fully hereinafter from a consideration of thedetailed description which follows, taken together with the accompanyingdrawings wherein an embodiment of the invention is illustrated. It is tobe expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for purposes ofillustration and description, and they are not to be construed asdefining the limits of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal section through a jet propelled vibratorembodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a modification of the invention; and

FIG. 5 represents a further modification of the inven tion.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the invention there isdisclosed (FIGS. 13) a vibrator having a cylindrical casing or shell 10which is open at its rear end 11, and is closed at its front or bottomend by means of a nosed wall 12. A cylindrical rotor chamber 13 isdefined in the casing between a pair of parallel cylindrical end walls14 and 15. These walls are stationary with the casing being restrainedin suitable manner against relative axial and rotational movement. Theend wall 14 is shown here as seated upon an annular internal shoulder16. Restraining means, such as screws 17, hold the end wall 14 to thecasing against relative axial and rotational movement. The opposite endwall 15 is seated upon an annular internal shoulder 18 of the casing. Anexhaust hose fitting 19 screwed into the open end 11 of the casing, asat 21, is drawn tight so that an end wall 22 of the hose fitting abutsthe end wall 15 and holds the latter tightly seated upon the shoulder18. Further restraining means, such as screws 23, may be used to insurethe end wall 15 against axial and rotational movement relative to thecasing. A flexible air exhaust hose 24 is clamped fast, as at 25, to thefitting 19.

An out-of-balance or eccentric rotor 26 is rotatably supported withinthe rotor chamber upon a stationary shaft 27. The shaft extends axiallythrough the rotor chamber, and is rigid at its ends 28 and 29 with theend walls 14 and 15. The rotor 26 is a one-piece structure having acentral body portion 31 of generally triangular configuration, as bestseen in FIGS. 2 and 3. The apex part 32. of this body portion iselongated at opposite ends beyond its end faces 33, as indicated by thegenerally cylindrical portions 34. The rotor is supported upon the shaftfor rotation by means of bushings or sleeve bearings 35 which are fittedin opposite ends of a bore 36 of uniform diameter extending through thecylindrical portions 34 and apex 32 of the rotor. Suitable Washerbearings 37 in stable equilibrium .upon the shaft. The shaft ispreferably highly polished so as to reduce to a minimum friction betweenit and the rotor bearings. The end walls 38 of the rotor are also highlypolished and flat so as to bear with a minimum of friction upon thewasher bearings 37. The opposite sides 40 and 41 (FIG. 2) of thetriangular body 31 of the rotor are equal, both being tangent atopposite points to the cylindrical surface of the apex portion 32. Thebottom surface 42 of the triangular body is arcuate, having a radiusconcentric with that of the shaft. The altitude of the triangular bodyintersects the axis of rotation of the rotor and coincides with thevertical center line as well as with the line direction of the center ofgravity of the rotor, all as indicated by the arrow 39 in FIG. 2. Theseseveral characteristics of the rotor facilitate swinging of the rotorrelative to the shaft with a minimum of friction and retarding forces.

The rotor is caused to swing or rotate about the shaft by means of thethrusts or reaction forces produced by pressurized medium, here,pneumatic fluid, which is fed through the shaft to the rotor anddischarged as jets into the rotor chamber from the triangular body ofthe rotor. To this end, the shaft is provided with an axial passage 43having an inlet at one end of the shaft. A pressure air supply flexiblehose line 44, extending coaxially of the exhaust hose line 24, has athreaded connection 45 with the inlet end of the passage 43. Pressureair fed to the passage 43 passes through a plurality of radial ports 46in the shaft to an annular channel 47 defined by the rotor bore 36 aboutthe shaft between the inner ends of the bushings 35. The bushings 35also serve to prevent leakage from this channel around the shaft to therotor chamber.

Pressure air passes from the channel 47 into a plurality of jet orifices48 in the triangular body of the rotor, from which orifices itforcefully issues in jet streams to the rotor chamber to one side of therotor and impinges against the closely located opposing wall 49 of therotor chamber. Thrusts or reaction forces produced by the dischargingjet streams act to propel the rotor about the shaft in the directionindicated by the arrow 51 (FIG. 2). The jet orifices 48 are of aparticular construction whereby the reaction forces produced by thedischarging jets are exerted in a direction substantially at rightangles to the line direction of the center of gravity, which linedirection in this case is also coincident, as earlier mentioned, withthe vertical center or altitude of the rotor as well as the radiusthereof. Here, three jet orifices are disclosed. Each comprises a firstvertical passage 52 which communicates at its upper end with the annularchannel 47, and the axis of which passage coincides with the verticalline direction of the center of gravity. At its low-er end, the verticalpassage communicates with a second, or discharge passage 53 extendingsubstantially at right angles therefrom and opening out of the side 41of the rotor body. The discharge end of the jet orifice is preferablylocated at the lower extremity of the side 41 of the body of the rotorso as to obtain a greater mechanical advantage than would be provided bythe reaction forces if the discharge opening were closer to the centerof rotation of the rotor. Provision is afforded by means of a pluralityof ports 54 in the end wall 15 to allow rapid exhaust of the dischargingjet streams from the rotor chamber to the exhaust hose 24. As aconsequence of its construction, the rotor rapidly develops a high speedof rotation and imparts vibrations of strong amplitude to the casing.

In FIG. 4 is illustrated a modified form of the invention wherein theout-o-f-balance rotor 55 has a pair of trunnions 56, 57 extendingintegrally from opposite ends of the apex portion 58 of a centraltriangular body portion :59. The t-runnions support the rotor forrotation in the rigid end walls 61, 62. The trunnion 56 at the left issupported for rotation in a bearing 63 fitted in the end wall 61; andthe trunnion 57 at the right is supported for rotation in a bearing 64tilted .in the end wall 62. The end wall 62 is provided with an axialbossed extension 60 to accommodate a pressure air hose connection suchas that shown at 45 in FIG. 1.

While the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 as housed in a casingsuitable for use for immersion in and for vibrating flowable material,such as fresh concrete, the invention is, however, subject to widecommercial application. It may be used for vibrating core boxes toobtain separation of a mold; or for vibrating hoppers to facilitate theflow of small particles therethrough; or for vibrating machines or otherdevices as might be needed.

In FIG. 5, representing a further illustration of the invention, therotor 26 shown in FIG. 1 is disclosed as mounted for rotation on theshaft 27 which is here supported between two end walls 65 and 66defining upright members of a mounting plate 67. This mounting plate maybe anchored by suitable fastening means, such as bolts 63, to a wall 69which may be the wall of a core box, hopper, machine or other device tobe vibrated.

It is understood that the end walls 65, 66 shown in FIG. 5 may bemodified as taught by the showing in FIG. 4 to accommodate the form ofthe rotor 55 shown in FIG. 4.

It is also understood that hydraulic pressure fluid may also be utilizedas the operating medium for driving the rotor.

Actual proportions of the rotor will depend upon the size of thevibrator and/ or the vibratory effect desired under certain operatingconditions. However, the various parameters may be easily established byuse of well known engineering techniques.

While embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and describedin detail, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is notlimited thereto. Various changes can be made in the design andarrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe invention; it is our intent, therefore, to claim the invention notonly as shown and described herein but also in all such forms andmodifications as may reasonablybe constnied to fall within the spirit ofthe invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A vibrator comprising in combination, an eccentric solid weight,restraining means to support said weight for rotation whereby arevolving radial force is produced upon the restraining means, saideccentric weight being formed to provide passageways for the conduct-ionof a pressurized fluid therethrough and to eject said fluid so that thereactive force of the ejected fluid will cause rotation of the eccentricweight, and an elongated housing providing a chamber in which theeccentric weight is contained, the chamber being closed at one end andhaving an opening, said opening being arranged for connection with ahose line for conducting pressurized fluid to the eccentric weight, andconducting exhaust fluid from the chamber.

2. A vibrator propelled by pressure fluid jet reaction forces,comprising a casing having a rotor chamber open at one end, anout-of-balance rotor formed with a longitudinally extending shaftportion having a full bearing support about it for rotation in thechamber and formed with a solid body portion depending centrally fromthe shaft portion, the body portion being of triangular form havingopposed triangular end faces and longitudinally extending side faces,inlet passage means for feeding pressure fluid through the shaft portioninto the body portion, and relatively restricted passage means forcausing discharge of the pressure fluid in jets from a side face of thebody portion so as to propel the rotor about its bearing support bymeans of the reaction forces produced by the discharging jets.

3. A vibrator according to claim 2, wherein a pressure fluid supply hoseline is connected with the inlet passage, and an exhaust hose line isconnected over the open end of the chamber in coaxial surrounding spacedrelation to the supply line.

4. A pneumatically powered vibrator immersible for operation in freshconcrete mix, comprising a casing having a longitudinally extendingchamber sealed at its bottom end and open at its top end, an eccentricrotor weight having a hub portion journaled axially in the chamber andhaving a solid body portion depending integrally from the hub portion,the body portion being provided with similar end faces and a pair oflongitudinally extending opposed side faces, inlet passage meansextending axially into the hub portion, a pressure air supply hose lineextending through the open end of the chamber and connected with theinlet passage, a plurality of jet port means opening out of one sideface of the body portion having communication through the body portionwith the inlet passage means for causing issuance of pressure air fromthe said one side face of the body portion in jet streams into thechamber so as to propel the rotor about the shaft by reaction forces ofthe discharging jets, and an exhaust hose line connected over the openend of the casing in coaxial relation to the supply line for exhaustingspent 5 air from the chamber.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,956,788 10/1960BOIldGSOIl 259-1 10 3,182,964 5/1965 Malan 259 1 FOREIGN PATENTS 153,4319/1963 Russia.

15 WALTER A. SCHEEL, Primary Examiner.

ROBERT W. JENKINS, Assistant Examiner.

1. A VIBRATOR COMPRISING IN COMBINATION, AN ECCENTRIC SOLID WEIGHT,RESTRAINING MEANS TO SUPPORT SAID WEIGHT FOR ROTATION WHEREBY AREVOLVING RADIAL FORCE IS PRODUCED UPON THE RESTRAINING MEANS, SAIDECCENTRIC WEIGHT BEING FORMED TO PROVIDE PASSAGEWAYS FOR THE CONDUCTIONOF A PRESSURIZED FLUID THERETHROUGH AND TO EJECT SAID FLUID SO THAT THEREACTIVE FORCE OF THE EJECTED FLUID WILL CAUSE ROTATION OF THE ECCENTRICWEIGHT, AN AN ELONGATED HOUSING PROVIDING A CHAMBER IN WHICH THEECCENTRIC WEIGHT IS CONTAINED, THE CHAMBER BEING CLOSED AT ONE END ANDHAVING AN OPENING, SAID OPENING BEING ARRANGED FOR CONNECTION WITH AHOSE LINE FOR CONDUCTING PRESSURIZED FLUID TO THE ECCENTRIC WEIGHT, ANDCONDUCTING EXHAUST FLUID FROM THE CHAMBER.